Chapter 50
After achieving our goal, Valentine and I returned to the Somac Duchy.
"Oh! Seeing Baron Amolrang safe and sound puts my mind at ease!"
"Looks like things went well for you too, Duke."
I could tell just from the duke's bright expression as he spread his arms wide to welcome me.
"Indeed! It went splendidly!"
"How's the atmosphere?"
"Even the baron who orchestrated all this doesn't know everything, huh?"
"I'm no god."
"It sounds to me like you know it all but just want confirmation."
"Ha, ha..."
He wasn't wrong.
"The prince declared he'd push ahead with the marriage, plunging the entire country into chaos. Pretending not to care about Anjilina Chimac? Tsk tsk."
That was right. Not the official wife, but a concubine. A hollow vessel who'd bear children with no claim to the throne. Highborn noble ladies with strong pride avoided such positions like the plague.
The prince had proposed her as a mere concubine to feign indifference, but the reality was the opposite. It was all a ploy for negotiation.
"The Chimac count, who'd been hesitating until now, accepted the marriage on the condition that his daughter be elevated from concubine to proper princess consort."
"Good for them."
"I was secretly hoping it'd deviate from Baron Amolrang's predictions... but it played out exactly as you foresaw, without a single variable."
The Somac Duke grumbled, his lip twitching.
"How's the friend we sent ahead faring?"
"If it's that young desert kingdom royal, he's behaving quietly with his siblings."
"Take good care of him. You'll get him back with interest later."
"...Baron. Will he truly become the next king of the desert kingdom?"
"He will. As long as his existence isn't discovered too soon, definitely within the two years until the desert kingdom's civil war ends."
"Hmph. Keep your mouth shut."
The moment we returned to the Somac Duchy, I was dragged straight to the office without a chance to rest, forced to reassure him.
He must be anxious.
Becoming king meant becoming a rebel. Failure would mean the downfall of his entire house! Having started on impulse based solely on my prophecy, he had no choice but to rely on me, like it or not.
"Baron. When do you think the empire will declare war?"
"Before the wedding."
"Hmph. If there's anything else besides war preparations, speak freely."
"Nothing. We have to focus on the empire. No distractions."
"A war that won't end quickly, I see..."
The duke's face tensed up, misinterpreting my words.
I really have nothing else to do, though?
99% of the romance fantasy novel Becoming the Youngest Daughter of a Count Family was about the protagonist's love life. Expect too much and... Ah!
"Duke."
"What do you need?"
"Lend me Lady Valentine for a few more days."
"No need to ask. Lady Valentine is now your exclusive knight, Baron Amolrang. A baron without even one attendant knight would lose face."
"Thank you."
"But where to next?"
"Not far. There's treasure I want to check."
"Treasure...?"
The duke stared at me with baffled eyes.
"If Anjilina Chimac didn't take it, it should still be there."
"Important treasure?"
"A sword."
"...You don't mean the legendary sword that only true love can find, do you?"
"That's the one."
"Even for a baron, that's impossible! Do you know how much grief my wife gave me for failing to find it? And it's not just me—most men in the Somac territory have that sad tale!"
"Oh dear..."
It was a tragic story that even an unmarried man like me could empathize with.
"Or does it mean you're that confident in your love?"
"No way. If I know the location, superstitions be damned."
"Haha! Superstition, eh..."
"Why the laugh?"
"Go look. I'll be here eagerly awaiting your failure."
"Ah, yes sir."
I vowed to show the landowner what for.
* * *
In the novel, there were often lively scenes of the protagonist picnicking surrounded by handsome men. Flower fields, beaches, lakes, villas... The author, hating repetition, changed locations each time, but ironically, they were all the same picnic.
Realizing this, the author devised a picnic with a fresh twist.
"Do you think you can find that sword, Baron Amolrang?"
"Lady Valentine, you're asking the same as the duke. Think I can't?"
"Yes. My father, who swore innocence to Mother that no other woman mattered, suffered for three years because he couldn't find it."
"Oh dear..."
This place had way too many tragic tales.
But I'm different.
The novel described the protagonist's picnic spots in detail. What cuisine was famous here, what legends, scenery, rumors... And the location hiding the legendary sword was no exception.
Southwest of the port city in Somac territory, a river flows, leading to vast plains. On uncleared land, there's an old ruin and a round hut.
Having pinpointed the approximate location of the treasure hut, I told Lady Valentine.
"Lady Valentine. Let's search for the round hut together from now on. It's big enough for ten adults, so it should be easy to spot."
"Doesn't seem to be any."
The horizon of golden wheat fields was perfectly flat, without a single obstacle.
"It has to be here."
"...I'll search diligently, as you're so certain, milord."
"Thank you. Regardless of results, we meet back here at sunset."
"Yes, milord."
And so, Valentine, her squire, attendants, and I—eight in total—scattered to search... only to find...
Why isn't it here?!
Even if the patient took the treasure, the location should remain intact. But not even a tiny hut for one person, let alone ten, was anywhere in sight.
"Milord. Tomorrow at dawn, we can cover a wider area."
"...No. I was a bit arrogant."
"Giving up?"
"No. There's a path leading to the treasure hut. Tomorrow, we'll follow it exactly."
I decided to recreate the novel's picnic to the letter.
* * *
"Baron Amolrang. Are you searching for treasure?"
"Yes. Hard at work."
"While savoring chocolate cake and hot coffee from the city?"
"......"
I had no retort to Lady Valentine's point.
"Nice weather."
"Makes me drowsy."
"Mmm~ That coffee aroma..."
Her squire and attendants had joined us, spreading mats nearby.
Close enough.
The only woman here, Lady Valentine, stood in for Anjilina Chimac, with the rest as the protagonist's men! Their looks and status varied wildly from the originals, but the gender balance matched, so whatever.
Next?
"Everyone except Lady Valentine, strip. Ah! No underwear—censors would kill us."
"Censors?"
"It's a thing."
The all-ages romance fantasy Becoming the Youngest Daughter of a Count Family couldn't fully strip the hunks.
And the revealed muscular male bodies!
Whoa...
I can vouch: faces belonged to the 'protagonist's men,' but below the neck? These guys were more manly... except me!
"Milord. Planning to search the hut underwater?"
As I directed, Lady Valentine sat primly on a flat rock by the riverbank, gazing at the flowing water.
Unlike the protagonist appraising hunks busily, she showed zero interest. Close enough.
"Now, men only—swimming race."
"A bit unfair. Excluding me just for being a woman."
"Uh..."
How to explain?!
"But it's your decision, milord. I won't question further."
"Thank you..."
In the original, the empire-raised Viscount Pimaang, a strong swimmer, taunted everyone. Eager to impress the protagonist, the men took the bait and raced...
"Winner gets a private walk with Lady Valentine."
"......"
"......"
The men glanced nervously at their superior, Lady Valentine.
Noticing, she declared, "Baron Amolrang's orders. No doubts. And knights must give their all, even if it risks their lord's honor."
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
I followed the novel's rules to the letter.
"Go."
Splash!
Splash!
Splash...!
Starting from the riverbank, we fought the downstream current to head upstream.
Can't lose!
Last in physique among the men, but swimming isn't just muscle and build.
Splash splash!
Confident in technique and stamina, I ignored the others and swam straight ahead.
Finally—
Whoosh!
"Pha!"
Reaching the shore where Lady Valentine waited, I looked around.
No one's here?
I was first to her side.
"...Baron Amolrang. A magnificent contest of such manly ferocity words can't capture."
"Thanks, Lady Valentine."
If only my swordsmanship was half as good as my swimming.
Drying off, I waited for the rest.
Taking longer than expected?
If they lagged just to let me win, it'd bruise their pride badly.
How long did I wait? They finally straggled in.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
"Huff huff!"
"Hah! Hah!"
Exhausted, the men collapsed on the bank.
"Hmph. Must've been tough."
The protagonist's weaker men handled it fine? They're exaggerating.
"Of course. Recent rains flooded the river. No deaths is a miracle."
"In that case..."
I played it cool, but inwardly sighed in relief.
Should've said that earlier!
I'm no local, first time seeing this river. Thought the current was always this strong.
As she said, no casualties was truly fortunate.
"Any objections to Baron Amolrang's victory?"
"None."
"None."
The resting squires and knights conceded in unison.
"The rightful winner, milord. Will you escort as well?"
"I'm no pro, but."
Redonning my clothes, I offered Lady Valentine my hand.
She gently placed her callused, firm hand atop mine.
"Shall we?"
"Anywhere..."
No plan after this. If no hut on the walk, clean surrender! But having searched once, low hopes.
"......"
"......"
Hand in hand, we walked silently along the bank.
Swish~
A warm breeze blew, as if consoling my treasure-less disappointment.
"Milord!"
"Yes?"
"Up ahead...!"
"Ahead wha— Ah!"
As mist cleared in the wind, the scenery shifted, revealing the hut.
"True love... That legend was real..."
"Yeah. Never dreamed the treasure was really hidden here."
"......."
"Let's go."
We headed to the hut amid the ruins.